Surrey Hills

Runnymede

Take a guided tour of Coopers Hill Woods and discover the places where bluebells carpet the undergrowth. Learn and observe how the trees and flora acclimatise to the changing of the seasons. Sunday May 1, 11.30am to 1pm, tickets £6 adults, £3 children. Booking is essential. Call 0844 249 1895 for more information.

'True beauty of bluebells'

Matthew Oates, a naturalist for the National Trust, said: “The bluebell starts growing in January with its sole purpose to flower before the other woodland plants.

"However, timing of flowering depends on elevation, latitude, aspect, soils, geology and local climate conditions – they depend on warm ground conditions to help them grow.

"The true beauty of our bluebells - the intense blue colour, the delicate scent, the view - makes them an essential and special element to our springtime experience.”

Bluebells at Horton Country Park, Epsom (Image: @Rainb0wgardener)

Surrey Wildlife Trust also recommends a number of spots to view bluebells.

It also wants to remind people that wild common bluebells are a protected species under UK law, which means it is illegal to dig up the plants or bulbs or to offer them for sale.

Staffhurst Wood, Oxted

The wood is a fragment of the old wildwood that once covered much of southern England and has a fine mix of oak, ash, beech and coppiced hazel and hornbeam. As well as the stunning display of bluebells, Staffhurst also has a beautiful woodland pond.

There is a car park off Grants Lane, near Oxted, and the nearest postcode is TN8 6QR.

Cucknells Wood, Shamley Green

A woodland known for its fine displays of spring flowers, including bluebells. Situated on Weald Clay, most of the wood is mixed with oak, ash, birch, rowan or mountain ash and hazel. Some holly, wild cherry, hawthorn and crab apple trees can also be seen.

Chinthurst Hill, Wonersh

A steep walk through ancient woodland to the top of the hill rewards visitors with fine views and beautiful displays of bluebells along the way. A quiet and peaceful spot, with many species of tree, including oak, sweet chestnut, hazel and rowan.

The car park is off the B2128 Wonersh Common Road, the nearest postcode is GU5 0PR.

Sheepleas, West Horsley

A mosaic of ancient and recent woodlands, scrubs and open grassland on chalk. Look out for bluebells in the woodland of beech, ash and field maple and also stunning displays of cowslips in the meadows.

There are car parks off the A246 by St Mary’s Church, the nearest is postcode KT24 6AP, or Shere Road, KT24 6EP.

Bluebells in a garden in Reigate (Image: @bluecrocus)

Wallis Wood, Walliswood Village, near Cranleigh

Bluebells thrive in this typical example of a hazel coppice woodland on Weald Clay. There is a woodland stream running through the site, which also has a small pool and is surrounded by pasture.

Parking is available in the lay-by in Standon Lane - nearest postcode is RH5 5QY - or park by village green by Scarlet Arms, the nearest postcode is RH5 5RD.

Woodland wonders (Image: Urban Countryman)

The Chantries, Guildford

A short distance from Guildford town centre you will find approximately 200 acres of woodland and meadows and the bluebells are a spectacular sight. According to the Woodland Trust, views from the south side overlook Chilworth, Chinthurst Hill and St Martha's can also be seen on the other hill.

Jon Day enjoyed a walk in the bluebell woods at The Chantries, Guildford (Image: Jon Day)

Painshill Park, Cobham

Enjoy the bluebells at the 18th century landscape garden in Cobham in front of the Turkish Tent, with the backdrop of the Five Arch Bridge and the Gothic Temple.

Top five facts about bluebells

Bluebells depend on warm ground temperatures to help them grow and are normally, but not exclusively, found in old woodland, thick old hedges and on bracken-covered hillsides

Half of the world’s population of bluebells can be found in the UK. UK bluebells are currently at risk of disappearing as a result of hybridizing with the scentless non-native Spanish bluebell which were often planted in garden

The native British species, which will not flourish in the average garden, can be identified by its strong sweet scent and intense violet-blue colour (rather than the pale blue of the Spanish plant), and has flowers that droop down like a bell along one side of the stem

The bluebell is associated with many old stories and folklore: ringing the ‘bells’ would summon fairies; wandering into a bluebell ring could put the walker under fairy enchantment leading to death; turning a bluebell flower inside out without tearing it would result in winning the heart of a loved on.

The bluebell has plenty of local names, including auld man’s bell, culverkeys, ring-o’-bells, wood bells and wild hyacinth

Let us know of any other great spots to see bluebells in the county and we will add them to the list.